THE SHOWRain ManWhere: Apollo TheatreNearest tube: Piccadilly CircusWhen: Until 20 December, 7.30pm evenings; 3pm matinees on Saturday and WednesdayTickets: £16 - £47www.rainmanonstage.comThe transition from screenplay to stage isn't an easy one to make; especially if the original is an Oscar winning film starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. But it is a good job this did not dissuade Dan Gordon. His adaptation of Rain Man for the theatre is a triumph. He has even managed to maintain the Hollywood allure with the help of Josh Hartnett, making his West End debut as Charlie.

The plot is as fans of the movie would know it. When 16 year old Charlie Babbit borrows his dad's car, he calls the police. Determined to make it on his own, Charlie leaves home. When his dad dies, Charlie gets the car and some rose bushes – but he does not inherit his father's fortune. In an attempt to track down the cash he discovers an unknown autistic brother, Raymond, with an extraordinary talent for numbers. Determined to save his business, Charlie takes Raymond on a journey with him. Raymond is introduced to a world beyond the hospital gates and Charlie, discovers unconditional love for his brother.

The moving tale is handled beautifully by Hartnett and Adam Godley as Raymond. It is little wonder that the latter has been nominated for the Best Actor title in this year's Evening Standard Theatre Awards. His touching take on the role is moving. The subtle emotion Hartnett displays for his stage brother combined with his charismatic presence makes him mesmerising to watch.

Jonathan Fensom's design is in keeping with the understated and slick production with the move from a hotel room to airport made seamlessly. Visuals of city landscapes are a reminder of its film roots. But there is no need for elaborate stage effects or dramatic scene changes. The main focus is the poignant subject matter and this is delivered with sincerity.

SKATE in black butter, skate with capers, skate au gratin ... alas, I can eat no more of this favourite fish now that it has been declared endangered. I am well aware that my self-imposed abstention will make not the slightest difference to the skate's survival, but not eating it has become a matter of principle. I no longer eat cod and have abandoned the bass before it becomes a rarity; I think it carelessly wicked to eat immature lobsters and crabs; and I'd never eat another scallop or oyster if I thought that they too were endangered. As for tuna, having witnessed the bloody cruelty of the catch in Sicily, I've not eaten a morsel for half a century and I really would go hungry rather than break that vow.

We used to think of vegetarian restaurants as being dreary places full of tree-huggers with a penchant for brown rice and tofu burgers. But the capital is bursting with vegetarian gems — both old favourites that the veggie fraternity like to keep to themselves and a new wave of fashion-forward destination restaurants responding to our increasing quest for a healthy lifestyle. Here's our pick of the bunch...